How To Defeat Buhari In 2019

If you want to defeat candidate Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, stop the propaganda and stick to the facts. Let me quickly admit that I was a Buhari supporter in 2015 and still a Buhari supporter for 2019 because I’ve not yet seen an alternative. Those who’ve indicated interest in the presidency from the Opposition, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are aspirants with their own unique baggage. Those who look like ideal candidates, to me, do not have viable electoral value. Buhari has his own baggage, but his attraction for me at this time far outweighs those shortcomings.

But I will not mind if someone comes up and defeats him on the basis of sound arguments and factual contestation of ideas rather than whipping up some primordial sentiments about religion and ethnicity. Buhari can be defeated, just as any incumbent who deserves defeat. But propaganda or appeal to religion will not cause his defeat.

The Buhari administration is vulnerable, very vulnerable, but the Opposition does not seem to know how best to exploit this vulnerability. And it is sad, very sad! Because no administration has been as weakened as this administration in the run -up to a presidential election. Yet, it appears unshaken by the threat of the coming together of political forces across the country.

The reason is simple. The Opposition is yet to fathom how to erode the political base of President Buhari-the teeming Northern youths who hero-worship him. Yes, we may dominate the social media, write stuff in the print media and shout on the air that Buhari Must-Not-Come-Back, but those may not deliver the votes. Those who vote Buhari do not care about the social media and the English we speak. They do not give a hoot about what democracy is and what it is not. And sure as hell, they do not believe us! Only Buhari is “Mai Gaskiya”-the honest one.

Buhari is our own Donald Trump! Say what you like, do what you like, what’s important to his base is what he says or does. President Trump has done what any other US president could never have thought of doing and he remains the President. He was alleged to have evaded tax, groped several women, fired an FBI director who was investigating his campaign ties with Russia and denounced US intelligence when he met Russian Vladimir Puttin in Helsinki.

He appointed his daughter, her husband and several of his business associates and friends into his cabinet. Trump has attacked all known American values and the media has been screaming at him. There has not been a break in media criticism of Trump’s White House since his election in 2016 and his base has remained as solid as ever. In fact, many of his supporters even justified some of his alleged missteps!

But Trump knows his base and what they want and he’s delivering for them. Globalization, climate change, taking democracy to the world, pro-immigration and remaining the leading super power in the world are not values Trump’s base hold dear. Many in Republican Party in Congress do not like him but can’t move against him because of the fear of his base. His base-their base- may reject them in the election for working against him.

Much to the chagrin of the rest of America, Trump is leading the US out of international political dominance. What can they do about it except to ensure his base has reasons to reject him in the poll.

Let’s come back home. Buhari has annoyed many Nigerians, including some of his supporters about some of his appointments and his lack-lustre responses to some critical national events. On some occasions, he even appeared to us as carrying nepotism too far. And more often than not, he appeared unruffled and aloof in moments of national crisis. Perhaps the country has seen more farmers/herdsmen crisis, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes under him than any other previous Nigerian President. And perhaps, no other Nigerian president has devoted more time to his personal health than the health of the nation.

These are the issues that make Buhari vulnerable and weaken his electoral appeal. These are the issues I will love to see the Opposition emphasize in the run up to the elections. The Opposition must demonstrate better understanding and commitment to national cohesion. It must show a better capacity for leadership by doing constructive criticism that also point the way forward.

The Opposition has to be smarter, more responsive and down to earth if it ever hopes to defeat Muhammadu Buhari, the presumed Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress in 2019. I have not yet seen these qualities in the response of the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the challenge posed by the APC candidate.

Instead I have seen criticism of the administration that are more of afterthought than any intelligent articulation of facts. The PDP is too quick to cast aspersion on the President and the administration. It must resist this urge and understand that times have changed, and the dynamics are different. Unlike previous presidents, Buhari has a political base that is intimidating in terms of numbers. You need to get at his base to defeat him. You need arguments that is persuasive enough to change the mindset of his base if you hope to unseat him.

All the talk about economic figures, about Buhari not having economic intelligence, slow, nepotic and sick are not the clinchers. It is not enough to allege that “Since President Buhari assumed office and took control of our once robust economy, his administration has not been able to articulate any germane policy to sustain, let alone, grow the economy…” without offering alternatives.

Or to ask glibly: “Why would the Buhari administration not accumulate debts when it has continued to cover up corrupt practices under its watch, including the alleged stealing of N9 trillion, through underhand oil contracts in the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as the alleged illegal lifting of crude oil worth N1.1 trillion by 18 unregistered companies to service APC interests, among others.” Without unveiling convincing evidence.

To defeat him you must speak to his base and emphasis the things that resonates with them. What about hiring researchers to tabulate number of people killed by herdsmen or bandits in each of the 36 state? The facts will show that the numbers are highest in his base!

Insecurity is highest in Northern Nigeria, but the Opposition is not using that against the President. Instead, it is speaking “Dogon turanci.”

 

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Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.